"In 1885 when Hon. Edwin Willits was invited to become president, one of the conditions of his acceptance hinged n an act of the board of agriculture establishing an engineering division. The Morrill Act of 1862, provided for instruction in mechanic arts (engineering) as well as agriculture. Why a course in engineering was not established at once, after the provisions of this act had been accepted by the state legislature, President Abbot tells in an address given on another page. Engineering of a kind was contemplated at the very establishment of the College and certain branches of engineering study were authorized in the first curriculum, nearly six years before the national land grant. At the meeting of the board of education on Dec. 2, 1856, instruction in English, mathematical and scientific courses were ordered."
"Subsequent to the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862, the recognition of mechanic arts was officially considered by the Board of Agriculture from time to time, but not until 1882 was active interest shown.
"On Jan 8, 1885, it was "Resolved that Lewis McLouth be and is hereby appointed Professor of Mechanics at the Agricultural College with a salary at the rate of two thousand dollars a year, salary to begin July 1, 1885, provided that the estimates made by this board to the Legislature for the establishment of mechanical department are approved and an appropriation made."
"The legislature appropriated $7,8000 for a building, with which was constructed the major part of the present shop building from plans prepared by Professor R. C. Carpenter. " [1][2]
^^ Beal, "A History of Michigan Agricultural College," Pg 147-48. Lansing Michigan, Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford Co. 1915
"In 1885 when Hon. Edwin Willits was invited to become president, one of the conditions of his acceptance hinged n an act of the board of agriculture establishing an engineering division. The Morrill Act of 1862, provided for instruction in mechanic arts (engineering) as well as agriculture. Why a course in engineering was not established at once, after the provisions of this act had been accepted by the state legislature, President Abbot tells in an address given on another page. Engineering of a kind was contemplated at the very establishment of the College and certain branches of engineering study were authorized in the first curriculum, nearly six years before the national land grant. At the meeting of the board of education on Dec. 2, 1856, instruction in English, mathematical and scientific courses were ordered."
"Subsequent to the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862, the recognition of mechanic arts was officially considered by the Board of Agriculture from time to time, but not until 1882 was active interest shown.
"On Jan 8, 1885, it was "Resolved that Lewis McLouth be and is hereby appointed Professor of Mechanics at the Agricultural College with a salary at the rate of two thousand dollars a year, salary to begin July 1, 1885, provided that the estimates made by this board to the Legislature for the establishment of mechanical department are approved and an appropriation made."
"The legislature appropriated $7,8000 for a building, with which was constructed the major part of the present shop building from plans prepared by Professor R. C. Carpenter. " [1][2]